Kara Charana Kritam — Kshama Prayer — Benefits & How to Chant
करचरणकृतं — क्षमा प्रार्थना
Complete guide to chanting correctly for maximum benefit
Benefits of Chanting Kara Charana Kritam — Kshama Prayer
The universal prayer for forgiveness (kshama-prarthana) recited at the close of any puja or worship, asking the Lord to pardon every error and shortcoming.
Acknowledges faults of body, speech and mind
done knowingly or unknowingly — and surrenders them to the Lord's boundless compassion.
Completes a ritual: by tradition any lapse in the procedure of worship is made whole by sincerely reciting this verse at the end.
Cultivates humility, repentance and trust in divine mercy, lightening the heart of guilt.
Though addressed here to Mahadeva (Shiva), the same verse is offered to one's chosen deity by changing the final name.
How to Chant Kara Charana Kritam — Kshama Prayer
Instructions
Recite once with folded hands at the very end of worship, sincerely seeking forgiveness for any error of hand, foot, speech, eye, ear or mind during the puja — and indeed for all faults. Devotees of other deities replace 'Sri Mahadeva Shambho' with their Ishta Devata's name (e.g. 'Sri Madhava' for Vishnu).
Spiritual Significance
It is said that the Lord, the ocean of compassion, overlooks every flaw in the worship of one who closes with this verse from the heart — for to Him the devotee's sincerity outweighs all error.
Origin & History
Source: Traditional kshama-prarthana (closing prayer of worship)
Author: Traditional
This beloved verse is the traditional close of Hindu worship — a humble plea for forgiveness offered to the Lord at the end of every puja. Recognising that no human worship can be free of error, the devotee lays every fault of body, speech and mind at the feet of 'the ocean of compassion', trusting that sincere love makes the offering whole. Addressed most often to Mahadeva (Shiva), it is recited the world over to complete a ritual.